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Maple Leafs in the playoffs: Simon Gagne remembers

At first, Flyers forward Simon Gagne had to jog his memory about Philadelphia’s 2004 conference semifinal win over the Leafs.

As one of only a handful of players still active from that roster, Gagne was struck by the fact it’s been nine years since the intense, six-game affair.

Naturally, he recalled Jeremy Roenick’s overtime goal in Game 6, still popular on YouTube. That goal sunk a Leafs team that was arguably more talented than the Flyers, one that was built to go all the way.

There was the celebration, on the Leafs’ home ice. Gagne remembers electricity in the air that night and throughout the series.

But what stood out for the 33-year-old native of Sainte Foy, Que., now in his second stint with the Flyers, was the physical play. It was, as hockey players like to say, a battle.

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“It was a tough, physical series and if my memory serves me correctly, we’d met each other two or three times before in the playoffs,” Gagne said. “It was a battle, especially going to Toronto, and I think everyone is going to remember Darcy Tucker’s hit on Sami Kapanen, and Sami coming back the next game. It was a tough series, a tough battle, and we got that series when J.R. (Roenick) scores that overtime goal. At that time I was a young player — it was, I think, my fifth year in the league — so definitely great memories and a great learning experience for me.”

Tucker also had history with Roenick, having slammed him into the end boards, leaving the popular Roenick woozy and unable to stay on his feet (the same way he left Kapanen). The history between the teams in general was rife with hostility.

Gagne did not factor heavily into the outcome of the series — his first big performance would come in Game 6 of the conference final against the Lightning — but he said he felt privileged to be surrounded by so many classy veterans.

As for why his Flyers prevailed over the Leafs, Gagne pointed to defence.

“That series was there for both teams to take,” Gagne said. “Both teams, I thought, were deep, and we had a lineup that was deep defensively.

“That year, management went out and got (Alexei) Zhamnov, and we had Tony Amonte, J.R., (Keith) Primeau, Sami . . . I was starting to get hot, too, and we had a team that could go all the way. I think we both did. But we were very good defensively. We had a lot of veteran guys (on the blue line). I felt that was one of the best teams I’ve ever played on.”

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